Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Kwara State Council, Saeed Murtala Olayinka, has decried the hardships in Nigeria following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal government.
Speaking after leading a peaceful protest of workers to deliver their grievances to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq at the Government House in Ilorin on Wednesday, the labour leader, said the protest was meant to send a strong signal to the Federal government about the hardships Nigerians were currently going through as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He urged the federal government to urgently repair the country’s refineries to make the product available and affordable for the citizens.
Saheed said the palliative programme of the government should also be made available to mitigate the hardships of the people.
The workers who thronged out in their numbers, moved around major streets in Ilorin before delivering the letter of their grievances to the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Àlabi, who received the message on behalf of the governor.
The NLC Chairman expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the protesters and advised them to maintain the peace.
In their separate remarks the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ,) Kwara State Council, Ahmed Abdullateef and the Chairman, Trade Union Congress,(TUC,) Kwara Council, Tunde Joseph, assured that the organised labour will use all available peaceful means to make government do the needful.
They commended the security agencies for exhibiting professionalism in the discharge of their duties during the protest rally.
In his address on behalf of the state government, Deputy Governor, Kayode Àlabi, assured members of the organised labour that their message will be delivered to the appropriate quarters.
